Chapter 151: Chapter 116: Promotion to Earth Knight, The Situation
Radiant Calendar, year 1459. The Great Fortress, Ilibya World. March, the dry season.
The garrison of the Imperial Shield Knight Battle Group.
According to garrison regulations, the Emperor’s Shield Knights would complete their prayers before ten in the morning, local time, and then head to the Martial Arts Hall to train in various tactics. If there were no battles, they would get a precious hour of rest at noon.
From the afternoon onward, tactical sand tables, Combat Techniques sparring, and night combat simulations filled their schedule, keeping the Emperor’s Shield Knights buried in arduous daily training until it was time to rest at night.
However, on this particular day, as the Emperor’s Shield Knights finished their prayers and prepared to leave the Saint Silver Cathedral, an incredibly powerful Knightly Aura erupted from deep within the Great Fortress.
To the senses of the Emperor’s Shield Knights, this Knightly Aura was like a raging storm in the heavens, saturated with the bloody stench of the battlefield, with grim killing intent, and with an eternal, unquenchable fury. It pierced through the thick walls, thundering and echoing down the magnificent marching corridors.
Every Knight’s aura had its own unique characteristics, but this aura of Mighty Power from within the Great Fortress carried an immense pressure that felt as if it heralded imminent destruction!
So much so that every one of the Emperor’s Shield Warriors who sensed this Knightly Aura was startled to their core.
Even though it contained no hostile intent, some New Recruit Knights of lower military rank still turned pale under its pressure, their minds utterly shaken.
’An Earth Knight—!’
A Five-star Emperor’s Shield Tactics Captain’s brow furrowed as he stared down the marching corridor behind him.
The other Emperor’s Shield Knights couldn’t help but begin murmuring amongst themselves.
"It must be Lord Reinhardt, ascending to the rank of Earth Knight."
"They say he could have ascended last year, but Lord Reinhardt spent another year honing his Physique before choosing to advance. He’s incredibly patient."
"Which Battle Group do you think he’ll serve in? I heard he rejected an invitation from the Radiant Angels. What if we get the commander to submit a request to transfer Lord Reinhardt to the Emperor’s Shield?"
After the young Knight voiced his idea, the Emperor’s Shield Knights exchanged glances, and a moment later, cheerful laughter echoed down the marching corridor.
The Emperor’s Shield Knights started off again, heading toward the Martial Arts Hall.
For one, Reinhardt’s Mighty Power Attribute was completely incompatible with the tactical style of the Emperor’s Shield.
And for an unassigned Imperial Knight as powerful as Reinhardt, wouldn’t all the major Knight Battle Groups in the Imperial Administrative Region fight tooth and nail over a single transfer order?
Besides, some of the veterans with a better understanding of politics and the general situation knew that Reinhardt was more than just a simple Imperial Knight. There had long been rumors circulating among the upper echelons of Ilibya that the Judgement Court was secretly investigating him.
Rumors that he was tainted by Demons; that he held the power of the Dark Abyss within his body.
Whether any of it was true was impossible to say. But rather than believing in such a baseless investigation, the Emperor’s Shield Veterans were more inclined to think it was all just infighting among the Administrative Region’s top brass.
After all, Reinhardt’s arrival had brought far too much prestige to Grand Governor Sedon.
Now that he had ascended to the rank of Earth Knight, the overt and covert struggles would likely only intensify.
...
「Great Fortress Training Room」
Reinhardt slowly opened his eyes. A ghastly green necklace, formed from Knight Power, hovered around his left wrist. Around his body, dark purple Anti-Magic Shields composed of individual hexagons flickered in and out of sight, like an Energy Barrier.
In addition, a dark purple energy pulse erupted from his body. It slid rapidly off the Anti-Magic Shield and surged outward in all directions, creating a five-meter radius of effect.
A standard-issue Emperor’s Shield Knight’s Broadsword, originally enhanced by Witchcraft Technology, began to flicker with azure energy sparks under the pulse’s interference. As if short-circuiting, the glow of its Witchcraft Technology rapidly faded.
The Knight’s Broadsword had been reduced to a common Composite Steel Weapon.
Geoffroy—Grandmaster of the Emperor’s Shield, a four-hundred-year veteran, and a Six-star Earth Knight—gazed at Reinhardt, his eyes filled with appreciation and fondness for the younger man.
He stroked his curving, pale-white gentleman’s mustache with a rough hand, then took out a trophy carved from a Demon’s corpse and placed it into the Forbidden Magic Force Field.
"Your Special Ability has a suppressive effect on Demonic power as well. Impressive."
A Knight’s development and application of their Mighty Power required more than just the obvious; it demanded imagination and wisdom, as it directly influenced the Domain they would later awaken.
It was a matter that allowed for no sloppiness.
Clearly, Geoffroy was very pleased with the Extraordinary Armament Special Ability Reinhardt had used to ascend to the rank of Earth Knight.
After Reinhardt reined in his Knight Power, Geoffroy picked up the Knight’s Broadsword from the floor. He said, half-joking, "Ever consider serving in the Emperor’s Shield? I could build a hundred-man elite unit around you."
Reinhardt had no intention of serving in an Imperial Battle Group for the time being.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have rejected the invitation from the Radiant Angels.
He had been in the Ilibya World for nearly three years. Stationed at the seat of power for this Imperial Administrative Region, he had heard of the world’s complex struggles, even though he had spent most of his time in secluded training within the Great Fortress and rarely ventured out.
Years ago, after they had arrived in the Ash Soil Star Zone via the Radiant Waymark, Sedon had relied on his status as a member of the High Table Nobility, his iron-fisted methods, and the support of the Radiant Angels and the Death Battle Group to quickly consolidate the worlds that had not yet rebelled or fallen.
Although Sedon was the Grand Governor, half of the Great Lords and Provincial Governors in the Dome Grand Council defied his rule.
If the Shield of the Empire Battle Group stationed in the Ilibya World hadn’t staunchly backed Sedon, it was hard to imagine what the Imperial Administrative Region would look like today.
Furthermore, he had long since heard that Robie and the Secret Order were investigating him in secret.
They were trying to find evidence that he was consorting with Demons.
Reinhardt’s brow furrowed slightly at the thought.
Robbie Hiling.
He had been a fellow follower from Reinhardt’s time in the Steel Knight Order’s training camp. So many years had passed, and Reinhardt had no idea what that little bastard from back then had gone through to become the mentally unstable wreck he was today.
Back then, Robie had been strong as an ox and brimming with energy—a classic hot-blooded youth who had to pick a fight with him every single month.
But now... the man was not only rail-thin and haggard, but also paranoid and neurotic.
Reinhardt couldn’t yet tell if the investigation was Robie’s own initiative or if some other power was pulling the strings from behind the scenes.
Even though he didn’t want to be on the same side as Sedon, from the moment he arrived in the Ilibya World, he had been indelibly branded as one of Sedon’s old guard.
It was just like his time in Frostfire Fortress, when he had borne the mark of the Steel Knight Order.
Facing Geoffroy’s invitation, Reinhardt gave it a moment of serious thought before replying, "If the opportunity arises in the future, I will consider your invitation."
Geoffroy wasn’t surprised. He eyed the plain, coarse-spun clothes Reinhardt had worn for three straight years, then stowed the Knight’s Broadsword and laughed heartily. "As an Imperial Knight, your current gear is a bit shabby. When you have time, come with me to the Aquitaine Casting World. I’ll introduce you to a truly skilled Master of Casting."
